China staged military drills off Taiwan's north, south and east coasts on Tuesday as a "stern warning" against separatism and called Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te a "parasite," as Taiwan sent warships to respond to China's navy approaching its shores.

China has launched military exercises around Taiwan, describing them as a warning to “separatist forces” and referring to the self-governing island’s president as a parasite. The drills, which included army, navy, air and rocket forces and the coastguard, took place in the northern, southern and eastern waters around Taiwan.